Lock for signals.



No. 832,847 PATENTBD 001 .9.1906.

F. Y. LOOK Pun b1. Ls.

APPLICATION FILED FL. 1906.

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H i n-- W/rnesses: :1 Inventor:

M W ByMM 'rus NORRIS PEI-Ins cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

P. B. COREY. LOOK FOR SIGNALS. PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP BB. 7, 1906.

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Witnesses: Inventor:

FTEIdB. Coreg,

PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT oE roE.

FRED B. COREY, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOCK FOR SIGNALS- No. eeasev.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Oct. 9, recs.

type which assumes a horizontal position to indicate danger and. moves downward to clear may,if it remains some time in dan- (K 7) ing the signal at dangei.

-'ger position,-become covered with a sufficient amount of sleet in winter to overcome the counterweight and move the signal to clear position unless means are provided for look- For thus looking the signal-arm it has been proposed heretofore to employ in electrically-operated signals =a magnet in series with the drivingmotor and a latch controlled by the magnet arranged to lock the signal at danger position and to be released by the magnet. It has also been proposed to employ an armature actuated by the stray field of the motor for releasing the latch.

My invention consists in utilizing for releasing the latch the clutching device which is employed in one form or another in practically all standard signals for locking the signal-arm to its driving means. By arranging the latch near to the clutching device and by providing suitable operative connections between the device and the latch the latch may be unlocked automatically when the clutching device is actuated to connect the driving means to the signal-arm to drive the signal from danger to clear, and this arrangement makes it unnecessary to employ any additional apparatus whatever except the latch itself and a suitable finger or other connection from the clutching device to unlock the latch.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, In Which Figure 1 shows an end elevation of the operating mechanism for a signal arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2

. shows a side elevation. Fig. 3 shows a view of the complete signal, and Figs. 4 to 6 are detail views of the latch and controlling means therefor.

In the drawings, A represents a. casing inclosing the operating mechanism for the signal. A main drive-shaft B is suitably journaled with'the casing and carries outside the casing the semaphore-arm C. (Shown in Fig. 3.) This arm is provided with a counterweight adapted to carry it to and hold it in danger position, as shown in Fig. 3, when released by the driving means. The clear position of the signal-arm is indicated in dotted lines. It is evident that it the signal should remain for some time in danger position and during that time should become covered with a large amount of sleet the signal might be moved to clear position, thereby giving a false indication.

D represents a member carried by the dri veshaft B and carrying the clutch-magnets E, which are arranged to clutch the' member D through a system of toggle-levers e and clutch-lever e, to the gear-wheel F, which is driven through suitable speed-reducing gearing by the motor G. The gear F is provided on one side with projections f, adapted-to be engaged by the clutch-lever c. When the magnets E are energized, the signal-arm is clutched to the driving-motor Or, so that the motor may drive it to clear position; but when magnets E are denergized the signalarm is released, so as to be carried to danger by its counterweight.

H represents a dash-pot which is suitably connected to the driveshaft B to prevent shocks in the signal mechanism.

I represents a locking-magnet adapted'to lock the signal at caution and at clear positions by means of a locking device. (Not shown.)

The signal mechanism as thus far described forms no part of my invention and is substantially the same as that shown and described in Patent No. 778,037 to Herman, dated December 20, 1904.

J represents a latch ivoted on one of the standards K, in which t e drive-shaft is j ournale'd and normally held by gravity in the position shown in the drawings. In this position when the signal is at danger, and the member D is consequently in the position shown in the drawings, the latch J engages an extension L on the member D, so as to prevent movement of the drive-shaft in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4. This is the direction in which the signal must move to pass from danger to clear position, and consequently as long as the latch J remains in this position the signal is securely locked at danger. In order to release the latch J, so as to permit the signal to be driven to clear position by the motor, I provide a finger M, which in the drawings is shown integral with one of the clutch-levers e and, which is consequently controlled by the clutch-magnets E. As will be seen from the drawings, when the clutch-magnets E are energized, so as to draw in their armature, strai htening out the toggle-levers c and clutc ing the member D to the gear F, the finger M is raised, so as to lift the latch J out of engagement with the member L. The signal is conse uently free to be driven to clear position by t e motor.

. Although I have shown my invention applied to a certain type of signal-operating mechanism, it will be understood that my invention is not limited to this particular type. Accordingly I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts here shown, but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications which are within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. In a railway-signal, a semaphore-arm, driving means therefor, means for clutching said driving means to said arm, means for locking said arm in danger position, and operative connections between said clutching means and said locking means whereby said arm is unlocked when said driving means is clutched thereto.

2. In a railway-signal, a semaphore-aim, driving means therefor, means for clutching said driving means to said arm, a magnet controlling said clutching means, and means controlled by said magnet for locking said arm in danger position.

3. In a railway-signal, a semaphore-arm, driving means therefor, means for clutching said driving means to said arm, means for locking said arm in danger position, and an electromagnet adapted when energized to unlock said arm and to actuate said clutching means to clutch said driving means to said arm.

4. In a railway-signal, a semaphore-arm, driving means therefor,- means for clutching saiddriving means to said arm, a gravityactuated latch for locking s'aid arm in danger position, and operative connections between said clutching means and said latch whereby said latch is'lifted when said driving. means is clutched to said arm.

5. In a railway-signal, a semaphore-arm, driving means therefor, means for clutching said driving means to said arm, an electromagnet controlling said clutching means, a gravity-actuated latch for locking said arm in danger position, and a member controlled by said magnetfor liftin said latch.

6. In a railway-signal, a semaphore-arm, driving means therefor, means for clutching said driving means to said arm, a gravity-actuated latch for locking said arm in danger position, and an electromagnet adapted when energized to lift said latch and to actuate said clutching means to clutch said driving means to said arm.

7. In a railway-signal, a drive-shaft, a semaphore-arm mounted on said shaft, driving means, a member carried by said shaft, means for clutching said member to said driving means, a latch adapted to lock said arm in danger position, and operative connections between said clutching means and said latch whereby said latch is unlocked when said member is clutched to said driving means.

8. In a railway-signal, a drive-shaft, a semaphore-arm mounted on said shaft, driving means, a member carried by said shaft, an electromagnet carried by said member, means controlled by said magnet for clutching said member to said driving means, and a latch controlled by said magnet adapted to lock said arm in danger position.

9. In a railway-signal, a drive-shaft, a semaphore-arm mounted on said shaft, driving means, a member carried by said shaft, an electromagnet carried by said member, means controlled by said magnet for clutching said member to said driving means, a latch adapted to engage and lock said member when said arm is in danger position, and means controlled by said magnet for moving said latch out of engagement with said member when said magnet is energized.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of February, 1906.

FRED B. COREY.

Witnesses: BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD.

ICC 

